Charging Stand having Selectively Interruptible Charging System

Abstract

A wave charging stand adapted selectively to interrupt charging of a smartphone to initiate a time display function. The stand employs one or more IR sensors to detect a predetermined sequence of wave activation events, e.g., motions or actions of a user's hand adjacent a portion of the stand. To minimize false triggering, valid wave activation events comprise multiple, time-sequenced wave actions. One or more LEDs may be selectively illuminated.

What I claim is: 
     
         1 . A method for use with a battery-operated device having a time display mode of operation activated by an interruption of a connection of the device to a charge source, the method comprising the steps of:
 [1] detecting a connection to the charge source;   [2] detecting a connection to the device;   [3] connecting the charge source to the device;   [4] detecting a predetermined activation event; and   [5] upon detecting the activation event, interrupting, for a predetermined period of time, the connection of the charge source to the device;   
       whereby the time display mode of operation of the device is activated. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein step 4 further comprises the steps of:
 [4.1] detecting a first wave event; and 
 [4.2] detecting a second wave event within a predetermined period of time of detecting the first wave event. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein, in step 4.1, the first wave event comprises a first wave of a hand of a user. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein, in step 4.2, the second wave event comprises a second wave of the hand of the user. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  wherein step 4.1 is further characterized as detecting, using a first motion sensor, a first wave of a hand of a user. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3  wherein step 4.2 is further characterized as detecting, using the first sensor, a second wave of the hand of the user. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3  wherein detection of the second wave event is further characterized as detecting, using a second motion sensor, a second wave of the hand of the user. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2  wherein step 4.1 further comprises the steps of:
 [4.1.1] detecting a first wave action; and 
 [4.1.2] detecting a second wave action within a predetermined period of time of detecting the first wave action. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein:
 step 4.1.1 is further characterized as detecting, using a first motion sensor, a first wave of a hand of a user; and 
 step 4.1.2 is further characterized as detecting, using a second motion sensor, the first wave of the hand of the user. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein:
 step 4.2.1 is further characterized as detecting, using the second sensor, a second wave of a hand of a user; and 
 step 4.2.2 is further characterized as detecting, using the first sensor, the second wave of the hand of the user. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein:
 step 4.1.1 is further characterized as detecting, using a first motion sensor, a first wave of a hand of a user; and 
 step 4.1.2 is further characterized as detecting, using the first sensor, a second wave of the hand of the user; 
 step 4.2.1 is further characterized as detecting, using the first sensor, a third wave of a hand of a user; and 
 step 4.2.2 is further characterized as detecting, using the first sensor, a fourth wave of the hand of the user. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of any of  claim 5 ,  6 ,  7 ,  9   10  or  11  wherein each sensor comprises a respective passive infra-red sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The method of any of  claim 5 ,  6 ,  7 ,  9   10  or  11  wherein each sensor comprises a respective active infra-red sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of:
 [6] upon detecting the activation event, illuminating, for a predetermined period of time, a light source. 
 
     
     
         15 . A charging system configured to perform the method of any preceding claim. 
     
     
         16 . A computer readable medium including executable instructions which, when executed in a processing system, cause the processing system to perform all the steps of a method according to any one of the  claims 1  to  14 .